SEPHARDIC CUSTOMS Maqam of the Week Book of Numbers -- Summer 2009 David M. Betesh he Middle Eastern Sephardic Jewish community has a T unique tradition of using a dif- ferent maqam (Arabic: melody type) each Shabbat for the Shaharit (morning) prayer services. The melodies used in a given maqam aim effectively to express the mood throughout the prayers. The maqam that will be used is based on the theme of the parasha. The main maqamat generally used are: Rast, Mahour, Ajam, Nahwand, Saba, Sigah, Bayat, Hoseni, Rahawi/Nawah and Hijaz. The maqamat have different melodies and have different reasons as to why they are used. Allow me to explain why and when some of the maqamat will be used throughout the weeks of the early summer 2009 season—specifically during the eight weeks of the Book of Numbers (Sefer Bamidbar Sinai). The information here is based also used for the ta'amim (cantilla- connection to the Hanukkah festi- on the traditions of the Sephardic tions) of Megillat Ruth; the scroll that val). Also, it may or may not be a Syrian Jews of Aleppo as recorded is read during the Shavuot festival. coincidence that Sigah, the word by the Red Pizmonim book, Sefer For Shabbat Naso, the longest that means “third” in Persian, is Shir U'Shbaha Hallel Ve'Zimrah. parasha of the Torah, the prayers used for the third parasha of Sefer There are slight variations in the are conducted in Maqam Saba Bamidbar. Sigah is the maqam used maqam choices by the Beirut, (which means army). There are two for reading the Torah. Damascus, Jerusalem and other explanations for this. The first is On Shabbat Shelah Lecha, the Middle Eastern communities. because the words of “Yose'e Saba” prayers are conducted in Maqam On Shabbat Bamidbar, which are mentioned in the opening of the Hijaz (meaning barrier, referring to is Shabbat Kallah (the Shabbat prior parasha. Another explanation is the location on the Arabian peninsu- to Shavuot), the prayers are con- because the subject of “Sotah” is la). The Damascus tradition, as well ducted in Maqam Hoseni. On years connected to Brit Milah. A Brit Milah as the Jerusalem tradition, is to that Bamidbar does not coincide is something that protects oneself apply Nahwand for this parasha. with Shabbat Kallah, Maqam Rast against promiscuity so that one will The reason to apply this sad maqam would be applied, because this is not see oneself in the dire situation is because of the sin of the spies. the first parasha of Sefer Bamidbar. of the “Sotah.” The spies, who brought back nega- Maqam Hoseni is related to the On Shabbat Beha'alotecha, tive reports about the Land of Israel, Shavuot holiday, because it is when the prayers are conducted in caused a tremendous trepidation we commemorate the receiving of Maqam Sigah. Maqam Sigah is usu- and sadness amongst the children the Torah. Since the Torah is some- ally applied in connection to building of Israel. The punishment for this sin thing of great beauty, Hoseni, the the Mishkan and specifically the was to have the nation wander in maqam that means “beauty” in building of the Menorah (this is also the desert for the next 40 years. Arabic, is applied. Maqam Hoseni is the reason why Sigah is used in Continued on page 2 SEPHARDIC CUSTOMS Maqam... Continued from page 1 On Shabbat Korach, the prayers are conducted in Maqam Nahwand. This maqam is used when there is a controversy in the parasha, and this holds true here where Korach, the first cousin of Moses and Aaron, starts a rebellion and tries to overthrow the chosen lead- ers of Israel. When Chukat-Balak are combined, the prayers are conducted in Maqam Hoseni or Mahour. On years that Huqat is read alone, Hoseni is appropriate to use, because the idea of following the laws of Parah Adumah, a law without a given explanation, reflects the spirit of the Matan Torah aspect (of following a rule with- out knowing the reason). On years that Balak is read alone, Mahour (a maqam that means chagrined or bro- ken hearted), is appropriate, because Bilaam and Balak are very angry and broken-hearted after the attempted curses are switched into blessings. Another explanation based on the Hebrew word maher (quick) is appropriate because it reflects the relative quickness of Bilaam to chase after the money of Balak and to curse Israel. On Shabbat Pinhas, all traditions agree to conduct the prayers in Maqam Saba. An explanation for this is because G-d gives a brit shalom (peace treaty) to Pinhas for his courageous and zealous actions in killing those involved in promiscuous behavior with the Midianites and the worship of their gods. Maqam Saba is used in other cases with the mention of a brit/covenant, because this is the maqam for the Brit Milah. According to the Zohar, Elijah the Prophet was a reincarnation of Pinhas, and being that Elijah is the prophet that witnesses every circumcision, it is associat- ed with Maqam Saba. It also may or may not be a coin- cidence, but this is the eighth parasha of Sefer Bamidbar, and eight is the number of brit. When Matot-Masei are combined, the prayers are conducted in Nawah or Nahwand. Maqam Nawah would specifically be appropriate, because it is the maqam used for ending a Humash and this is the last parasha in Sefer Bamidbar. In our days, the de-facto choice of most hazzanim is Maqam Nahwand. In years when the two are read separately, Maqam Nahwand would be used for Matot, and Maqam Saba would be used for Masei. Special thanks to Hacham Mordechai Nadaf for pro- viding crucial explanations for some of the maqam choices. You can learn about these topics and more by visit- ing pizmonim.com. David M. Betesh, a contributing writer to IMAGE Magazine, is the President of the Sephardic Pizmonim Project, and a student at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine..